Urgent Need to Prevent Deaths in Developmental Disability Services

RICHMOND, Va. —People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are at serious risk due to critical gaps in oversight, emergency response, and provider accountability in licensed providers, according to a new report released by the disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV).  dLCV, the state’s designated Protection and Advocacy agency for individuals with disabilities, released a comprehensive report following an extensive, multi-year review of unexpected deaths of persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) receiving services licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS).

The report, Every Minute Matters: Oversight and Emergency Response Failures in ID/DD Care, examined sudden and unexpected deaths of Virginians with IDD receiving services licensed by DBHDS. dLCV’s findings show alarming trends, including failures to initiate CPR or call 911 promptly, failure to follow food safety protocols, and repeated violations by some providers.

Among the report’s key findings:

• In nearly half of reviewed cases, staff delayed or failed to perform CPR or call 911.
• Some providers repeatedly violated the same safety regulations without facing meaningful sanctions.
• Failure of supervision led to preventable choking deaths.

To address these issues, dLCV is calling on DBHDS and Virginia lawmakers to take immediate action by:

• Requiring regular medical emergency drills in all licensed programs; and
• Enforcing stronger sanctions, including civil penalties, for providers whose neglect endangers lives.

dLCV recognizes that DBHDS has begun to address these concerns, including considering new regulatory requirements for emergency medical drills and staff training.  “These reforms are moving far too slowly,” said Colleen Miller, dLCV’s Executive Director,  “Every life matters – it is time for the Commonwealth to act.”

Read the full report, Every Minute Matters: Oversight and Emergency Response Failures in ID/DD Care.

The disAbility Law Center of Virginia works to protect and advance the rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, education, monitoring, and public policy efforts. For more information, visit https://www.dlcv.org/.

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